Spring came early this year and is now here in full swing. We are preparing for a busy month at Newhall Presbyterian with our annual Family Camp and it’s swashbucklin’ theme of Treasure Hunt.
I always get excited about being in the great outdoors with people. I’ve thought about the numerous retreats and camping trips I’ve participated in over the years. There are so many fond memories. Some are filled with excitement, others simply the cementing of good relationships. I’ve had some of the most meaningful experiences in overcoming difficult situations or working through some adverse calamities with people while camping. That’s why I can chuckle so hard reading this letter written from a scout to his mother from a camping trip:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Our scoutmaster told us to write our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and were worried. We are OK. Luckily, none of us drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yes, please call Chad’s mom and tell her he’s OK. He can’t write because of the cast. I got to ride on one of the search and rescue jeeps and it was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it weren’t for all of the lightning. Scoutmaster Walt got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he told him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn’t hear. Did you know if you throw a gas-can on the fire it will blow up?
This morning we got to go swimming in the lake and dive off the rocks. Since Terry can’t swim and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, Scoutmaster Walt let them take the canoe across the lake while he stayed and worked on the car. I was glad he didn’t get mad about them losing the life jackets. Guess what? We all passed our first aid merit badge. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Wade and I threw up, but Scoutmaster Walt said it was probably just food poisoning from the leftover chicken. I’m so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster. I have to go now. I’m having a great time.
Love, Jordan.
May you have a blessed springtime and many happy camping memories. You know those memories are what Joshua wanted to preserve as he stacked up rocks in memorial piles when the Israelites were entering the Promised Land (Joshua, chapter 4).
For more information, please contact First Presbyterian Church at 661-259-0555.